Photographedby AntonioSabatarArs
WILDLIFE AS CANON SEES IT
The bill of a male white-headed duck turns
from brown to a vivid sky-blue during
breeding season. The duck's characteristic
broad bill and its elongated and pointed tail
feathers identify this species as a stifftail-a
distinct waterfowl group most adapted to an
aquatic environment. The stiff tail helps the
duck maneuver underwater while foraging.
In the silty bottom, the duck feeds on tiny
midge larvae, its main food, and on other
invertebrates and seeds. White-headed duck
populations have dwindled due to habitat
loss and hunting; in Europe, hybridization
NATUE
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with the introduced North American ruddy
duck is now the greatest threat.
As a global corporation committed to social
and environmental concerns, we join in
worldwide efforts to promote greater
awareness of endangered species for the
benefit of future generations.
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White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)
Size: Length, 43-48 cm
0
Weight: 510-820 g
Habitat: Shallow, brackish or fresh water
lakes and lagoons; fragmented range across
west Palearctic and western Asia
Surviving number: Estimated at 10,000
and declining
Canon